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Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candace Fleming, Jessica Hische
lisa_rwrmusings's review against another edition
3.0
I learned quite a bit about Amelia Earhart, and not all of it was flattering. I liked that I learned a lot, but I do not think that the organization and format is ideal for middle grade readers. It has an alternating timeline with several informational text boxes that makes it hard to navigate.
atuckerdye's review
3.0
I've never read much about Amelia, but I found the facts about her life interesting and her disappearance heartbreaking.
alexiskg's review
4.0
Amelia Earhart was a selfish jerk, turns out. I suppose it's only to be expected of celebrity adventurers. (She had the President build a secret multimillion dollar one-use island runway for her whim of a flight IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DEPRESSION, and stood up the radio instructor for every lesson she was supposed to have before her failed flight save for one hour on one day a week before she left.)
As for the book itself, very well executed; despite knowing technically what happened to Earhart (or knowing what we don't know about what happened to her), the interstitial time jumps to July 1937 made for a very compelling mystery/thriller framework.
As for the book itself, very well executed; despite knowing technically what happened to Earhart (or knowing what we don't know about what happened to her), the interstitial time jumps to July 1937 made for a very compelling mystery/thriller framework.
sunsoar25's review
5.0
Earhart’s biography is framed with her dramatic disappearance and the weeks until the search was called off. The author does not begin dryly but with an intense moment in her life that readers are probably the most familiar with and thrillingly expands upon them. The author includes Earhart’s early life and doesn’t shy away from the family’s troubles. From the beginning, Amelia pushed common gender boundaries in her own way and longed for adventure. Growing up Amelia learned to be self-reliant. Fleming details her training and the buildup to a major figure in the public eye through her major undertakings. Fleming makes an interesting point that George Putnam, Amelia’s manager and later husband, helped Earhart cultivate her public image and make a living out of such a dangerous profession which really opens up the celebrity side of her. The themes of this biography include the all important identity and expectations, both societal and gender. The style of author’s writing increases the suspense and tension on the classic mystery. Amelia is characterized in the biography as being both non-conventional and driven role model but also as a being driven in some regards by the fame and fortune. Fleming presents a balance portrait of Amelia Earhart.
Overall, I thought the author did a very good job of making this iconic legend a real person by delving into her life and the personality she presented to the world. Major strengths of this biography include keeping maps, primary source documents, photographs of Amelia in action, and further resources if the reader wants to learn more. In respect to the quality of writing, Amelia is fully-fleshed out and well-rounded rather than a mysterious flier. The author is also able to present her in the context of her day and as we see her now. I believe the framing of the biography with what is known of her last flight would be the most appealing aspect of the work to teens because it is able to give the incident a sense of urgency lacking in textbooks.
5Q 4P, M J
I think the cover would appeal primarily to younger teens. It shows an iconic black and white photo of Earhart posing with one of her planes. The font style, design, and color really set off the picture adding a dash of excitement, danger, and a good deal of adventure.
2012 Nomination YALSA Excellence in Non-fiction, Biography
[I needed to read and review this novel for a course and the above was my course review with voya codes and all.]
Overall, I thought the author did a very good job of making this iconic legend a real person by delving into her life and the personality she presented to the world. Major strengths of this biography include keeping maps, primary source documents, photographs of Amelia in action, and further resources if the reader wants to learn more. In respect to the quality of writing, Amelia is fully-fleshed out and well-rounded rather than a mysterious flier. The author is also able to present her in the context of her day and as we see her now. I believe the framing of the biography with what is known of her last flight would be the most appealing aspect of the work to teens because it is able to give the incident a sense of urgency lacking in textbooks.
5Q 4P, M J
I think the cover would appeal primarily to younger teens. It shows an iconic black and white photo of Earhart posing with one of her planes. The font style, design, and color really set off the picture adding a dash of excitement, danger, and a good deal of adventure.
2012 Nomination YALSA Excellence in Non-fiction, Biography
[I needed to read and review this novel for a course and the above was my course review with voya codes and all.]
djblock99's review
4.0
After a brief preface on the difficulty of separating fact from fiction (in which she dispells legends like Earhart's claim to have been unimpressed by an airplane at a 1908 fair), Fleming delves into Amelia's 1937 disappearance. Dual narratives cut back and forth between the 17-day search for Earhart's plane and her life story. Fleming has made a great effort to unravel the truth of Earhart's life and disappearance from the myths.
Fleming doesn't portray Earhart as the only or even best female pilot of the time. She learned to fly from Neta Snook, and Louise Thaden beat her in the 1929 Women's Air Derby -- a race from California to Ohio. Earhart benefited from better publicity thanks to manager/ husband George Putnam, and her disappearance guaranteed her legendary status. Fleming admires Earhart for what she was and is: an inspiration to women who dream of accomplishing more than is expected of them, and who wish to live life on their own terms.
Earhart's 1937 autobiography was fittingly titled The Fun Of It -- she seemed to delight in setting records and constantly pushing the boundaries of what she (or any pilot) was capable of. Before her last flight, told Putnam that if she must go, "I'd like best to go in my plane." The desperate messages later received from radio enthusiasts as far away as Florida indicate that in the end, she may have changed her mind.
There are many great photographs and newspaper clippings, courtesy of Purdue University and the George Palmer Putnam collection. The most amazing illustration may be from Betty Klenck's notebook. Next to a page of doodles is a transcription of what may be Earhart's final calls for help (page 81). The design features a 1930s font and very cool 30s-inspired lettering from cover to cover. I also really like the many text boxes and sidebars that cover everything from a failed romance in Earhart's youth to her friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt.
For the most part, I didn't find any unnecssary definitions (one of my pet peeves) embedded in the text. A notable exception appears in "The Way It Works," a text box on page 3 that defines GPS and transmitted (it means "sent"). I was worried that this text box was an indicator of facile writing to come, but was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be a fluke.
A bibliography, source notes, picture credits and index are appended. Of these sections, the bibliography is the most useful. It includes archival collections; books by Earhart, Putnam and Earhart's sister, Muriel; documentaries; and recent scholarly works. There's also a separate section for websites.
Fleming doesn't portray Earhart as the only or even best female pilot of the time. She learned to fly from Neta Snook, and Louise Thaden beat her in the 1929 Women's Air Derby -- a race from California to Ohio. Earhart benefited from better publicity thanks to manager/ husband George Putnam, and her disappearance guaranteed her legendary status. Fleming admires Earhart for what she was and is: an inspiration to women who dream of accomplishing more than is expected of them, and who wish to live life on their own terms.
Earhart's 1937 autobiography was fittingly titled The Fun Of It -- she seemed to delight in setting records and constantly pushing the boundaries of what she (or any pilot) was capable of. Before her last flight, told Putnam that if she must go, "I'd like best to go in my plane." The desperate messages later received from radio enthusiasts as far away as Florida indicate that in the end, she may have changed her mind.
There are many great photographs and newspaper clippings, courtesy of Purdue University and the George Palmer Putnam collection. The most amazing illustration may be from Betty Klenck's notebook. Next to a page of doodles is a transcription of what may be Earhart's final calls for help (page 81). The design features a 1930s font and very cool 30s-inspired lettering from cover to cover. I also really like the many text boxes and sidebars that cover everything from a failed romance in Earhart's youth to her friendship with Eleanor Roosevelt.
For the most part, I didn't find any unnecssary definitions (one of my pet peeves) embedded in the text. A notable exception appears in "The Way It Works," a text box on page 3 that defines GPS and transmitted (it means "sent"). I was worried that this text box was an indicator of facile writing to come, but was pleasantly surprised when it turned out to be a fluke.
A bibliography, source notes, picture credits and index are appended. Of these sections, the bibliography is the most useful. It includes archival collections; books by Earhart, Putnam and Earhart's sister, Muriel; documentaries; and recent scholarly works. There's also a separate section for websites.
singinglight's review
5.0
This gets my vote for best nonfiction book of the year. Seriously. Fleming manages to take a story which everyone knows and make it not only interesting, but sit on the edge of your seat gripping. A fascinating look in to Earhart’s life, her flaws, and her influence on the world at large. [Nov. 2011]
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